Adobe · Platform not recorded
Troubleshoot Photoshop 'Not Enough RAM' Errors
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Save the document, close unneeded apps, check memory and scratch-disk settings, then isolate oversized layers or features before resetting preferences.
Prepare the exact task safely
Save a copy, record the command, document dimensions, bit depth, layers, smart objects, effects, RAM allocation, scratch disks, and free storage.
Save and identify the RAM error
Save a copy and note which command caused the error.
Review scratch disk and performance
Close apps, free scratch-disk space, and review Performance preferences.
Isolate large document elements
Test a duplicate with large layers or effects disabled one at a time.
Verify the result before relying on it
Repeat the intended result in a harmless test and confirm this outcome: Test a duplicate with large layers or effects disabled one at a time. Compare the result with the original state and keep the change only when the task, permissions, output, or account remains correct.
Understand the limits and consequences
Allocating all RAM to Photoshop can starve macOS or Windows; clearing caches loses undo or clipboard data, and scratch-disk changes require adequate reliable storage.
Use a reversible recovery path
If the result differs from the tutorial, undo only the most recent change when possible, preserve the original account, file, scene, project, or configuration, and compare the exact symptom with the linked Adobe Help Center guidance before making a broader reset. Record the exact before-and-after state, product version, platform, and error so a later support request describes the tested change accurately.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If one document fails, isolate oversized layers or effects in a duplicate; if all documents fail, capture Adobe diagnostics before resetting preferences or reinstalling.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Platform not recorded.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.